The Los Alamos Hilltopper wrestling team, spearheaded by senior Cory Geyer, held a raffle Saturday in conjunction with its Bryan Sanchez Memorial Invitational, to raise funds to help a former opponent.
Proceeds from Saturday’s raffle went to help offset the costs of treatment for Daniel Martinez, one of only three five-time state champions in the history of New Mexico, who graduated in 2011 from Las Vegas Robertson, one of the teams taking part in Saturday’s tournament.
Martinez, who was wrestling for New Mexico Highlands University, was diagnosed with lung cancer only about two weeks ago. He underwent surgery to remove a tumor recently.
It was a shocking diagnosis for Martinez, the most successful member of one of the most successful wrestling families in the history of the state.
Upon hearing the news, Geyer swiftly set up the raffle and found prize donors.
Los Alamos had originally planned to sell 500 tickets, but those tickets sold out in just one day. The Hilltopper coaching staff printed four more sets of tickets, almost all of which were sold prior to Saturday’s tournament.
In all, the raffle raised $2,000 for Martinez’s family.